Morocco: 6.3 Mln E-Commerce Transactions in Q1 2022

During the first quarter, Morocco recorded a total of 6.3 million payments by bank cards (Reuters)
During the first quarter, Morocco recorded a total of 6.3 million payments by bank cards (Reuters)
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Morocco: 6.3 Mln E-Commerce Transactions in Q1 2022

During the first quarter, Morocco recorded a total of 6.3 million payments by bank cards (Reuters)
During the first quarter, Morocco recorded a total of 6.3 million payments by bank cards (Reuters)

E-commerce websites and billers' websites affiliated to the Interbank Electronic Banking Center (CMI) have carried out 6.3 million online payment transactions via Moroccan and foreign bank cards, for a total amount of 2.3 billion dirhams ($230 million) during the first quarter of 2022.

The e-commerce activity is up 34.4 percent in number and 19.3 percent in amount compared to the same period of 2021, says the CMI in its latest report on the Moroccan electronic money activity.

The online payment activity of Moroccan cards showed an increase of 34.9 percent in the number of transactions to 5.9 million in the first quarter of 2022, and 15.1 percent in the amount to 2 billion dirhams ($200 million) in Q1-2022, the same source adds.

Regarding the activity of online payments of foreign cards, it has increased by 25.8 percent in number of transactions, to 388,000 transactions and by 63.3 percent in amount, to 272.4 million dirhams, says the CMI.

It noted that the activity is still very strongly dominated by Moroccan cards to the tune of 93.8 percent in number of transactions and 88.2 percent in amount.

The report also shows that merchants and e-merchants affiliated to CMI recorded 30.9 million payment transactions, by Moroccan and foreign bank cards, for a total amount of 12.1 billion dirhams, up 27.5 percent in number of transactions and 22.1 percent in amount.

By sector of activity, payments by Moroccan and foreign bank cards (in terms of volume) were made in the retail sector (22.7 percent), followed by the clothing sector (9.5 percent), gas stations (8.6 percent), restaurants (8.1 percent), hotels (7.2 percent), health (5.5 percent), furniture & electronics (4.8 percent) and other sectors (33.6 percent).



Oil Prices Fall as Ukraine Talks Raise Prospect of Sanctions Easing

A pumpjack operates at the Vermilion Energy site in Trigueres, France, June 14, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
A pumpjack operates at the Vermilion Energy site in Trigueres, France, June 14, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
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Oil Prices Fall as Ukraine Talks Raise Prospect of Sanctions Easing

A pumpjack operates at the Vermilion Energy site in Trigueres, France, June 14, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
A pumpjack operates at the Vermilion Energy site in Trigueres, France, June 14, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

Oil prices fell on Tuesday as traders weighed the possibility that talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US to end the war in Ukraine could lead to the lifting of sanctions on Russian crude, raising supply.

Brent crude futures were down 62 cents, or 0.93%, to $65.98 a barrel at 1222 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures for September delivery, set to expire on Wednesday, were down 66 cents, or 1.04%, to $62.76 per barrel.

The more active October WTI contract was down 63 cents, or 1%, at $62.07 a barrel, Reuters reported.

Following a White House meeting on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European allies, US President Donald Trump announced in a social media post that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump said arrangements were being made for a meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy, which could lead to a trilateral summit involving all three leaders.

"Following yesterday's meeting between Trump, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, and several European heads of state and government, there appears to be movement in the negotiations, fueling renewed hopes for an upcoming end to the war. As a result, oil prices are falling again today," Commerzbank analysts said in a note.

Suvro Sarkar, lead energy analyst at DBS Bank, said Trump's softened stance on secondary sanctions targeting importers of Russian oil had reduced the risk of global supply disruptions, easing geopolitical tensions slightly.

Chinese refineries have purchased 15 cargoes of Russian oil for October and November delivery as Indian demand for Moscow's exports falls away, two analysts and one trader said on Tuesday.

Zelenskiy described his talks with Trump as "very good" and noted discussions about potential US security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump confirmed the US would provide such guarantees, though the extent of support remains unclear.

Trump has pressed for a quick end to Europe's deadliest war in 80 years, but Kyiv and its allies worry he could seek to force an agreement on Russia's terms.

"An outcome which would see a ratcheting down of tensions and remove threats of secondary tariffs or sanctions would see oil drift lower toward our $58 per barrel Q4-25/Q1-26 average target," Bart Melek, head of commodity strategy at TD Securities, said in a note.